Dean Howe, who is an associate of Liam Byrne and ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson, is currently being questioned by gardai in relation to the shooting, but he is not suspected of being the trigger-man or getaway driver, according to the Sunday World.

The gunmen escaped in a car that was found partly burnt-out near the scene in Drumalee Park, Dublin 7. Two guns found in the car will be examined by gardai.

An unarmed garda was in the area when the shooting took place and chased the gunman. However the garda accidentally landed on a wasp nest and was taken to Mater hospital after suffering from an allergic reaction.

“He was literally on top of him when he landed on a wasps nest and was repeatedly stung after hopping over a wall,” a source said.

A passerby also gave chase to the gunman but fell and broke his ankle in the pursuit.

The shooting is the latest in a string of tit-for-tat murders that have shocked the city.

Gareth Hutch, the brother of Jonathan, was killed in a feud-related murder last May 24.

His murder forced Jonathan Hutch to flee to Spain where he was recently lucky to escape with his life.

Following the shooting in Majorca that claimed the life of innocent council worker Mr O'Neill, Mr Hutch returned to Ireland and has been lying low because of the continuing threat to his life.